Automatic dump valve systems



Jan. 2o, 1959 G. o. KIMMELL 2,869,569

AUTOMATIC DUMP VALVE SYSTEMS 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1955 Q e s /9 23 /5 f2 I /f/ 7 \/3 26 unmllmn'nys wmummm 25 2:5; /0

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BY F2614A \\6 WA United Sttes This invention relates to automatic systems to control liquid level in a vessel and more particularly to dump valve systems for regulating or controlling liquid level in vessels under gas pressure from which it is desired to remove accumulating liquid in response to reasonably small changes in liquid head.

It is desirable in many industrial applications to maintain liquid at a desired level in a tank or vessel or in the overlow outlet piping from the tank or vessel within reasonable limits. For example, in vessels used to separate oil from water, it is desired to maintain a predetermined level in the oil outlet piping and water outlet piping even though the rate of inflow of the liquids is variable. it is common to operate such tanks or vessels under gas pressure above that of the atmosphere and with Varying pressures. Not only does the pressure in the vessel vary but the pressure also varies `in the flow line downstream ti1erefrom.

lt has heretofore been proposed to regulate the dumping of such vessels to maintain the liquid at approximately the desired level, but such systems have not been entirely satisfactory because they either fail to eliminate the effects on the liquid level of variations in gas pressure in the vessel or fail to eliminate the etlects of pressure changes in the flow lines downstream from the dumping system.

One object of the invention is to provide a dump valve for the removal of liquid from a vessel or pipe without the necessity of using oats or float chambers, but in which only an equalizing gas line to the space above the liquid level to be controlled is required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dump valve which is sensitive only to the head of liquid being controlled, the effects of changing upstream and downstream pressures being cancelled or essentially cancelled out.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dump valve which has snap action, i. e. it tends to be either open or closed at low rates of flow to eliminate or reduce the tendencies to wire draw or cut out the main valve element.

Afurther object of the invention is to produce a simple and trouble-free dump valve to operate over a wider range of liquid level positions than in float driven mechanisms where the limits of the range of operation are dened by the extreme positions of and vertical displacement of the float.

A stili further object of the invention is to provide a clump valve which is free of close fitting parts and thus not subiect to the usual effects of depositions from the flow stream which often interfere with the proper operation of present dump valves.

An important object of the invention is to provide a dump valve which is capable of closing ott completely under the influence of a very small drop in liquid level,

thuseliminating the possibility of static liquid in the vessel ice vention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction described and claimed.

ln the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts: t

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional View of a dum valve designed to carry out the invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section of the crank housing, bell crank, and stutling box of the dump valve of Figure l, the View being taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1; i

Figure 3 is a reduced view of the dump valve of Figures l and 2 and showing it in a typical installation; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged section of a portion of the seat and valve element of the dump valve of Figure l.

Referring in detail to the drawings and first to the assembly shown in Figure 3, 1 designates a vessel or pipe in which it is desired to control the liquid level shown at 2. It will be understood that means not shown supplies liquid to the Vessel, either continuously, or intermittently or variably, and that it is desired to maintain a head of liquid approximately as illustrated at h by the action of the dump valve structure. Attachment of the dump valve structure to vessel 1 is accomplished by a nipple 3. The dump valve structure includes a bowl or housing t provided with an inlet conduit 5 and a discharge or downstream outlet 6.

As shown in Figure l, the upper end of housing 4 is provided with a flange 7. Within the housing 4, there is a cylindrical discharge conduit S, which can be either removable (as illustrated) or a part thereof, and which has a valve seat 9 at its upper end. The valve seat 9 in cooperation with a resilient valve disc l0 serves to open or close the communication between inlet conduit 5 and discharge conduit S and thus regulate the ilow from the vessel 1 through the dump valve structure. A bonnet l1 is proprovided with a iiange 17, is held in bolted engagement with the upper end of the bonnet 1i by the bolts 18. Incorporated in the upper end of the bonnet 311 is a boss or liange 19 tapped to adapt bolts l. The outer margin of a balancing diaphragm 20 is clamped between flange l? of crank housing 16 and the boss or flange i9 of bonnet 11. Thus between diaphragm 13 and balancing diaphragm 20, within bonnet 11 is formed a gas equalizing chamber 21. This gas equalizing chamber 2l is isolated from the rest of the assembly except for a single outlet 22. As shown in Figure 3, an equalizer tube 23 may be connected to the outlet 22 and thus provide communication between chamber 21 and the gas space in pipe 1 at a point above its liquid level 2.

The pressure in chamber 14 is always greater than that in chamber 21. A diaphragm plate Z4 supports diaphragm i3 against the greater pressure in chamber 141. The unsupported portion of diaphragm 13 is kept relatively small, so that the plate 24 acts substantially like a piston in the housing 4. A valve disc retainer 25 supports the outer margin of the resilient valve disc il@ by an over hanging lip 26 and clamps the inner margin of diaphragm i3. A depending piston 27 supports and clamps the inner portion of resilient valve disc 10. A pivot socket element 2,8 is threaded to plate 24 and holds the piston 27, resilient valve disc l0, valve disc retainer 25, and diaphragm 13 in clamped engagement with diaphragm plate 24.

There is special coaction between the piston 27 and the valve seat 9. As shown in detail in Figure 4, the

assenso g valve seat 9 is beveled or chamfered both internally and externally, to form two tapered or conical surfaces which provide a rather sharp circular rim or apex to engage the resilient disc 1t?. The depending piston Z7 projects some distance down into the conduit 8 below the inner chamfer of the valve seat 9 when the valve is closed, and it will be seen that the diameter of the piston 27 is only slightly less than that of the conduit S so as to provide a restricted passage for the flow of fluid past the piston 27 when the parts are in the position shown in the drawing. The area of the conduit 8 (hereinafter designated A8) is thus less than the area of the rim of the valve seat (hereinafter designated A9), and because of the restricted passage along the piston 27, there is a sharp though small increase in the arca of the disc it@ subjected to the diiierence in pressure between the chamber 14 and the conduity S just after the valve starts its opening movement. The significance of this will become apparent from a consideration of the operation of the valve described hereinafter.

The diaphragm plate 24 is provided with an upwardly extending neck 2i?, the upper end of which engages the central portion of a balancing diaphragm Ztl. A tubular retaining element 3h clamps the balancing diaphragm Iand a retaining ring 31 to the neck 29. ln order for the dump valve to function to the best advantage the outside diameter of the retaining ring 3?. and the diameter ot housing 16 at the circle where it seals with diaphragm 2i) are of such dimensions that the effective area of diaphragm Ztl is essentially equal to the area of the circle of valve seat 9.

The term effective area as used herein requires some explanation. The diaphragm 20 is` moulded to have the shape illustrated in Figure 1. The area of diaphragm 20 at the circle where it seals with housing i6 would constitute the total area of the diaphragm insofar as pressure is concerned. However, the total force exerted on the valve assembly because of a difference in pressure across the diaphragm 2i) is not the unit pressure times the total area, because part of the force due to this difference in unit pressure is transmitted by the diaphragm to the housing 16. The portion of the total area which may be said to exert all of its pressure force upon the valve assembly is called the effective area.

Within the crank housing 16 and above balancing diaphragm Ztl there is formed a downstream equalizing chamber 32. This downstream equalizing chamber 32 is in communication at all times with the ,insiderof Aconduit 3 and the outlet 6. A passageway/,for this purpose is provided by the central hole 33 in the retaining element 3h, hole 3d through the extended neck@ of the diaphragm plate 2d, and through holes 135 in the socket element 2S.

lt will thus be seen that the dump valve structure comprises a housing having an overow type discharge conduit S with a specially designed valve seat 9 at its upper end, a valve plug assembly having two diaphragms i3 and Ztl to provide three chambers: A main flow chamber 14, a gas equalizing chamber 21 above the main ow chamber 14, and a downstream equalizing chamber 32, together with a passageway connecting the chamber 32 to the downstream or discharge conduit S at all times.

Disposed transversely across the crank housing 16 and to one side of the center line of the valve is a trunnion shaft 36. One end of the trunnion shaft 36 is supported in a blind trunnion cap 37 (sce Figure 2). The other end of the trunnion shaft 36 passes through a stuffing box 3:8 of any conventional design. Attached to the external end of the trunnion shaft 36 is a trunnion hub 39 to which is attached a lever -arm- 40 'which adjustably carries a weight 41. Y

Keyed to that portion of the trunnion shaft 36 which is Within the crank housing 16 is a crank arm 42. Mounted for rotation on the end of the crank arm @l2 is a push rod 43 extending `through central hole 33 of th@ 1aining element Sil. This rod 43 rests in a conical recess in the upper end of the socket element 28. The arrangement illustrated thus provides means for exerting a downward force on the valve plug assembly at :all times during automatic operation of the dump valve, this force being that exerted by the weight 4l. upon the push rod d3. if desired a spring may be employed instead of the weight arrangement shown, springs being the equivalent of weights in this tart.

Provision is made for opening the valve manually when desired. This is accomplished by a lifting pin 44 which traverses the lower end of push rod 43. It is so positioned as to engage the lower end of the retaining element 30 when the lever arm 40is raised manually'.

in the automatic operation of the dump valve, it may be assumed that the weight 4i carriedby lever arm di! is adjusted to balance the minimum desired liquid level 2 in vessel l. in this explanation, it is assumed that there is a'substantial differential prcssurevacross the valve caused either by gas pressure in theV pipe`1 above the liquid level 2, or `by a rrelatively high vacuum at the outlet 6. A differential pressure across'the valve in the di rection of ow tends to close the valve. This differenti-al pressure is approximately equal to the product of the area of the main valve element and the unit pressure drop lacross it. ln accordance with the invention it is desired to balance out this force. The balancing diaphragm Zi?, which has an eiectivel area substantially equal to the area of the valve seat 9, accomplishes the balance as follows:

The downstream pressure in the conduit Sis in ccmmunication with the downstream equalizing chamber 32 as explained above. The downstream pressure is exerting an upward force over the area of valve scat 9. At the same time it is exerting adownward force on the effective area of the balancing diaphragm 20, thesetwo forces cancelling or essentially cancelling each other.

The gas pressure in the gas equalizing chamber 21 is exerting a downward force on the diaphragm 13. The counterpart of this downward force is the gas pressure exerting an upward force on diaphragm 13, but not all of diaphragm V13 is exposed to the gas pressure, the area of valve seat 9 being subtracted. This leaves an unbalance equal to the gas pressure exerting a downward force on the area of valve seat 9. The gasrpressure in the gas equalizing chamber 21 is also exerting 4an upwardforce on the eiective area of the `balancing,diaphragm Okeancelling or essentially cancelling out'the,imbalance in a down direction. Thus it can be seen that theforces within the valve due to differential pressure which would otherwise affect its operation are cancelled out or essentially cancelled out, andthe relatively feeble forceof the `action ofthe liquid head from liquid level 2 on the diaphragm 13 is free to operatethe valve in a satisface tory manner.

The system of forces operative within the dump valve and the net operating forces can vbe brest demonstrated by the application of vs fllPlealgebra. To pursue the demonstration, let: l

Pg represent gas pressure above liquid level 2 in vessel 1.

vh represent the pressure caused byY liquid head in vessel 1 above the level of diaphragm 13. (Pg-Ht then represents the total pressure in the lower chamber 14.)

Pds represent the downstream pressure in the outlet 6. (This is also the pressure Yin the equalizing chamber 32, which is always in communication with outlet 6.)

A9 represent the area of valve seat 9.

A8 represent the area of the bore ofcylindrical discharge conduit 8.

A20 represent the eective y.area of l balancing ,diaphragm 20.

A13 represent the effective area of diaphragm 13.

W represent Athe load on the diaphragm assemblykrby push rod 43. y

andasse s When the valve is closed: A 1 The total downward forces exerted on thevalve plug assembly in the system are:

W-l-AzoP esti-41aP a (1) The total upward forces exerted on the valve plug assembly in the system are:

AvPas-l-(Pg-l-h) (Ars-AQ-l-Azola (2) (The area of valve seat 9 is equal to the elective area of balancing diaphragm 20 as a basic premise of the valve structure.)

Substituting (3) in (1):

tween valve seat 9 and the bore of the discharge conduit 8.

or: As=A9dA Substituting (3) and (8) in (7):

Collecting terms:

13h Factoring:

W;,h(A1a-A9) -l-dA (Pg-i'h-Pds) (10) The pressure drop across the valve element is (Pg-l-l-PdS (see Figure l). Let

P.+h) -P...=dP 11) substituting (11) in (1o):

W=I1(A,3A9) +dAdP (12) Equation 12 demonstrates that when the valve is partially open it is eiected by pressure in a direction to open it still further, the amount of the added opening effort being approximately the product of the diierential pressure across the valve element (dP) and the difference in areas of A9 and A8 (dA).

Thus there are two main opposing forces, W and h (A13-A9), shown by Equations 6 and l2 in the algebraic development, one up and one down, which enter into the operation of the dump valve. The downward force W is applied to the valve plug assembly through the push rod 43. By applying the force without guides or close fitting parts, the resilient valve 'disc 10 can always adjust itself to perfect normality with respect to the valve seat 9.

As stated above, the downward force imposed on the push rod 43 could come from a compression spring in the crank housing 16 instead of from the weight 4l, but the application or force by a weight is preferred. The spring rate of a spring applies an increasing force as the valve opens and thus introduces a factor which is not desirable.

The upward force, MAH-A9), results from the head of liquid in the vessel 1 acting on the area lOt diaphragm 13 minus the area of the valve seat 9.

As the liquid level 2 rises from a minimum in the Vessel 1, the increased liquid head produces an additional upward force on the valve plug assembly. When the upward force on the assembly reaches a value satisfying discharge conduit S due to the proximity of piston 27v and the bore of the conduit 8. This sudden change in area unbalances the valve in a direction to open it still further, the unbalance being in the order of the eX- pressiondAdP of equation l2. If the ilow is steady and suicient to keep the valve in a position in which the piston 27 is withdrawn from the conduit 8, the valve will throttle, obeying Equation 12.

If the ilow is inadequate to produce the above throttling condition, the valve will obey Equation l2 until the liquid level 2 falls suiciently to initiate a closing of the valve. At the instant the resilient valve disc 1() touches valve seat 9, the area changes from the area of the conduit 8 to the area of the valve seat 9, the varea bal ance defined by Equation 6 is established, and a force 'represented by the quantity dAdP is imposed on the diaphragm assembly to close the valve positively. The valve thus opens and closes with snap action.

If the diameter of the outer margin of piston 27 is reduced (decreasing its proximity to the bore of the conduit 8) suiiiciently to eliminate, in operation, the transfer of areas between seat 9 and piston 27, the valve obeys Equation 6 and opens no further than is required to accommodate the flow. Under some conditions such a valve operates satisfactorily, but there is then no snap action. One disadvantage is a tendency to wire draw or cut out the main valve element. It should be pointed out, further, that unless a fairly close tting piston 27 is employed, the Valve is inherently unstable even if bal anced as described, due to the loss of effects of downstream pressure on the main valve element when the valve is open. There is then susceptibility of the structure to hydraulic ram. I

The particular shape of the piston 27 accomplishes, in addition to making the valve operate in a semi-snap action, the elimination of hydraulic ram. During an action, when the outer margin of the piston 27 enters the conduit 8, the speed of closing is arrested because liquid in lower chamber 14 is trapped and must find exit through the annular area between piston 27 and the bore of cylindrical discharge conduit 8 or be forced back out of lower chamber 14 through the inlet 5. Neither of the aforementioned processes can take place rapidly enough to produce a slamming action, .and the valve goes through its cycle smoothly.

While only one embodiment has been shown and described, it is obvious that various changes .may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

Islam:

1 Ina system for automatically controlling the head of liquid in a vessel containing both liquid and gas yunder pressure, the vessel having means for supplying liquid thereto and a discharge line Lor conveyingv liquid therefrom, the combination with the discharge l'inetof a dump valve structure connected thereto and controlling the ow of liquid therefrom, said dump valve structure consisting essentially of a housing having an inlet conduit Vand a discharge conduit of the overllow type provided with a rather sharp circular rim constituting la seat for a valve, a valve plug assembly having a disk adapted to lrest upon the seat when the valve is closed and having a depending piston integral therewith and adapted to project into lthe discharge conduit when the valve is closed or partly opened and be completely withdrawn from the discharge conduit when the valve is fully opened, two vertically spaced diaphragms having their outer margins `connected to the housing and their inner margins connected tothe valve plug assembly to form three chambers in the housing, namely, a lower main flow chamber, an intermediate gas equalizing chamber and an upper downstream eqnalizing chamber, means for subjecting the main flow chamber to the pressure of the inlet conduit, means for subjecting the gas eqnalizing chamber to the pressure of the gas space above the liquid level of the vessel to be controlled, and means for subjecting the downstream equalizing chamber to the pressure of the discharge conduit, and physical means such as a Weight or the like for exerting a balancing force on the valve plug assembly corresponding to thc head of liquid desired to be maintained in the vessel, the arrangement being such that there iS 1,1.0 violent mvvement Qf the valve plus .assembly as its Vdisk moves to leave or come `t9 rest ,ppqn saidksveat.

2. The structure kdeiined in claim 1 in which the diameter of the piston is slightly less than that of the discharge vconduit ,to provide a restricted passage forthe flow of iluid past the piston when it is in the discharge conduit, and in which the area of the rim Iof the valve seat is slightly larger than the area of the discharge conduit to cause a slightly larger area of said disk to be subjected to the difference in pressure between `the lower chamber and `the discharge conduit just after ythe valve starts its opening movement than the area of Said d iSli subjected to that dilerence in pressure when the valve is fully closed.

References Cited in the file o f this patent` UNITED STATES PArENIS 602,657 Franklin v v Apr. 19, 1898 694,033 Serrell Feb. 25, 1902 2,166,742 Lambert July 18, 1939 2,387,792 Holmes Oct. 30, 1945 2,586,410 Williams Feb. 19, 1952 2,603,231 Birkemeier July 15, 1952 '2,694,544 Hall Nov. 16, 1954 2,720,891 Glasgow Oct. 18, `1,955

FOREIGN PATENTS 252,243 Great Britain May 19,y 1926 

